According to foreign media New Atlas, British Equipmake and Spanish bus manufacturer Beulas announced on Wednesday a partnership to launch the Jewel E electric bus. Equipmake said the electric bus has the largest battery and the longest range of any electric double-decker bus in the world, and testing will start later this year.
We've seen some interesting developments in the electrification of bus transportation, from the 40-foot (12-meter) behemoth that BYD developed in China, to the long-haul version capable of traveling 600 miles (965 kilometers) on a single charge, to the zero-emission school buses being formed in California. BYD has actually developed the world's first electric double-decker bus for London, which was launched in 2016 and has a 345 kWh battery pack that offers a range of 190 miles (305 kilometers).
The upcoming Jewel E marks a big step forward in the technology, thanks to the technology of Equipmake, the producer of the world's most power-dense electric motors. The British company has developed a dedicated powertrain for advanced electric buses, equipping them with a large 543 kWh battery, the largest ever installed on a single-axle, double-decker bus, giving it a maximum range of 250 miles (402 km).
This so-called zero-emission powertrain produces a maximum torque of 3,500 Nm and a power output of 400 kW. It also uses water-glycol cooling circuits to regulate the temperature of motors, frequency converters and batteries to optimize the overall efficiency of the vehicle. Meanwhile, the bright red body is produced by Spanish car manufacturer Beulas.
"Improving urban air quality is a global issue," said Ian Foley, general manager of Equipmake. "At the same time, operators want vehicles to be cost-effective and efficient, while governments and local agencies need bus manufacturers to bring advanced technologies to market quickly. Equipmake has taken all of this into account, and the result is our innovative new electric double-decker Jewel E. ”
Jewel E will be tested in the fourth quarter of 2021 and in-service trials in the first quarter of next year. Sales and manufacturing will also start in 2022.